Flax looper moth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orthoclydon praefectata |
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Orthoclydon
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O. praefectata
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| Orthoclydon praefectata (Walker, 1861)
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The flax looper moth or flax window maker (scientific name: Orthoclydon praefectata) is a type of moth. It belongs to the Geometridae family. This moth is special because it is found only in New Zealand.
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About the Flax Looper Moth
This moth is quite small. Its wingspan is about 38 to 45 mm. That's roughly the length of a few paperclips!
You can tell the male and female moths apart by their colour. The male moth is a light brown. The female moth is a shiny white.
Where This Moth Lives
The flax looper moth is found only in New Zealand. This means it is endemic to New Zealand. You can find it in many different places across the country.
The main place this moth lives is near its food plant. This plant is the native New Zealand flax, called Phormium tenax.
The Life Cycle of the Flax Looper Moth
Like many insects, the flax looper moth goes through several stages in its life.
Eggs
The eggs of this moth are a light straw colour. Female moths lay their eggs on the underside of flax leaves. This helps keep them safe.
Larva (Caterpillar)
When the eggs hatch, tiny caterpillars emerge. These caterpillars are brown and green. They have three dark red lines along their back. They also have a yellow line on each side of their body.
When a caterpillar is fully grown, it is about 2.5 cm long.
Adult Moths
You can see adult flax looper moths flying during all the summer months. They are busy flying around and laying eggs to start the next generation.
